The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1887-10-06
THE WALLED-IN ROOM.
Being the Terrible Adventure Of
an Irish Naturalist.


opened my eyes and looked around
me. a man was leaning over my bed:
near the man stood woman with Z
bonnet with great white wings or the
sides, holding in her hands a moist
compress. The room was plain and
neat, with clean white walls. On a
table, covered with a great napkin OF
yellow linen, l noted a number OF
strange Objects-rows of little walls.
and :. brown earthen jar filled with bits
of ice. Through the muslin curtains,
which bellied out from the window in
the balmy air, Icould see patch of blue
sky and the tops of green trees bending
lightly in the breeze. Where was l?
1t seemed like long dream that had
had; my head felt empty. my limbs
ached, and | could not think.
The man gently lifted my head, and
gave me few drops of some liquid,
which l swallowed with avidity.
"Well. Mr. Furniss," he said, show
do you feel?"
''Eh, what?' 1 cried. "Where am
l?"
You are in my house, my dear sir,
and we shall take good care of YOU"
Now, he added, replacing my head on
the pillow, ''be quiet and 90 to sleep"
I gazed at him for long time, and
all at once l recognized Doctor Ber-
tram, the celebrated specialist in in
sanity. A shudder passed through my
frame. Why was l in Doctor Ber-
trans hospital, instead of in my home,
near Phoenix Park, within books, my
herbs, and my microscopes around me?
His hospital was for mad people!-and
that Sister of Charity, those walls, that
bowl of ice--my God, l must be mad!
But why?-how?
How long have 1 been here?" l
asked, after time.
For four weeks, Mr.. Furniss. But
you must be quiet and sleep. Now do
not try to talk"
For a month"; Was it possible?
What had happened? But even as l
asked myself these questions, little by
little l went off to sleep. and saw, in
a billowy meadow, a road covered with
blood and bordered on either side
with mOnstrous microscopes shaped
like trees, a road on which two little
girls played at pitch and catch with
severed head. while Dr.. Bertram,
cOmically bonneted with q religious
cap. rode astride of dead body, which
reared, and pranced, and kicked till he
could scarce keep his seat.
The next morning l was better; and
day by day | improved, though that
horrible nightmare came to me each
night. But it grew less and less dis
tinct, and in a few weeks it almost
ceased to trouble me.
One evening the doctor, whom l had
not seen during the day, seated him
self near my bed.
We'll" said lie, feeling nv pulse,
''yOu are doing famously. I'll have
you out, as good rs new, in few DAYS.
But you've had close shave. 1t has
been one of the prettiest cases of
cerebral congestion l ever handled-a
beautiful case. Why, it's wonder
you are alive now. Tell me, how is
your memory; can you remember what
happened before you were brought
here?'
IL don't know, can not think. 1
have passed through something fearful.
What it is, can not say. From the
faint glimmer of recollection that comes
to me, have the sensation of having
been dead-murdered o, it is fright
full My brain is weak yet. Then, the
child, a pretty golden-haired child
rolling on the floor"
Come. come, this will never do,
said the doctor. ''YOu can tell me all
about it in the morn-'
mo, now. DOCTOR" 1 cried. ut is
coming back to me. Yes, 1 have it
now"
Here is an exact transcript of my
recital as l told it to DR.. Bertram and,
later, to the magistrate.
You know my passion for natural
history. Well, scarcely week passes
that l do not go into the country
botanizing. That day L went to
Glacnevin, where, as YOU know, the
marshy meadows are rich in curious
plants. infusoria, and diatoms. Iwasle-
turning, and was almost in Dublin with
my box full of rare specimens, on which
Iexpected to make report that would
astonish the Botanical Society, when /
saw q little girl, certainly not more
than five or six years old, who was all
alone, crying as if her little heart
would break. l approached her, but
Mt sight of me she redoubled her cries.
could see that the little one was lost.
and that she did not know where to 60,
so 1 spoke to her kindly, and, by dint
of promising her unlimited bonbons.
got her to tell me that her name was